The selection shall be after holding competitive examinations comprising two successive stages. The first stage is the Kerala Judicial Service Examination, (Preliminary), which shall be conducted on the basis of the Scheme and Syllabi given below. The second stage is the Kerala Judicial Service Examination (Main), consisting of a written examination conducted on the basis of the Scheme and Syllabi given below and a viva-voce conducted on the basis of the Scheme given below. Only those candidates who are declared by the High Court to have qualified in the Preliminary

Examination will be eligible for admission to the main written examination, provided they are otherwise eligible for admission to the Main Examination.

Scheme of the Preliminary Examination :

The preliminary examination will consist of one paper of objective type

screening test based on the syllabi given below containing 100 multiple choice questions, with each question carrying four marks. Maximum marks is 400 and one mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer. The duration of the preliminary exam will be two hours. The preliminary exam is conducted for shortlisting the candidates and the marks obtained in the preliminary examination will not be counted for determining the final order or merit of the candidates.

Cut off mark prescribed in the preliminary examination for qualifying for

the main written examination is 40% for general candidates and 35% for candidates belong to SC/ST category. Only those candidates who are declared by the High Court to have qualified in the preliminary examination will be eligible for admission to the main written examinaition provided they are otherwise eligible for admission to the main examination. Short list of candidates selected for the main examination will be published by the High Court.

Syllabi for the Preliminary Examination :

Part A - Code of Civil Procedure, Negotiable Instruments Act, Transfer of

Part B - Code of Criminal Procedure, Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act.

Part C - General Knowledge.

Test of Reasoning and mental ability.

Scheme of the Main Examination :

a) Written Examination:

The Kerala Judicial Service (Main) Examination will consist of 5 papers

of written examination carrying a total of 900 marks, based on the syllabi given below and viva-voce which carries 100 marks. Paper I of the written examinaition carries 100 marks and the each of the remaining four papers carries 200 marks. The prescribed duration for each paper will be three hours. Cut off marks in the main written examination is 40% in each paper for general candidates with an over all minimum of 45% of the total marks in the written examination. For candidates belonging to SC/STs categery the cut off mark shall be 35% and 40% respectively. Fraction of half or more than half shall be regarded as full marks and less than half shall be ignored.

b) Viva voce:

Only those candidates who score the prescribed percentage of marks in

the main written examination shall be called for viva-voce. The viva-voce is meant to assess the candidate's General Knowledge, grasp of general principles of law, analytical ability and suitability for appointment as Musnsiff-Magistrate. The cut off marks in the viva-voce is 30% for general cadidates and 25% for candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste and Schedules Tribes category. Fraction of half or more or more than half shall be regarded as full marks and less than half shall be ignored.

The marks secured by the candidates in the viva voce shall be added to the

total marks secured by them at the written examination (Main) and the names of all those candidates shall be arranged in the respective lists on the basis of the total marks secured by them.